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Travel Industry Council of Ontario

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TICO Agency Search

There are over 2,400 travel agencies and wholesalers registered with the Travel Industry Council of Ontario. Search our database to determine if a travel agency or travel wholesaler is registered in good standing with TICO. When you book your travel with a registered Ontario travel agency, the cost of your travel service is protected.

About TICO registrant search

The Travel Industry Council of Ontario provides this information as a public service and the results are based on TICO's database at the time the search is conducted. If you require an official search or clarification, please contact TICO directly. Please note that the information on this site may not reflect recent changes in registrant status or registrant information. As such, consumers who are unable to find a listing for their search or who have questions about the information that they received should contact TICO to verify the information before relying on it.

Conduct Search

Enter information in one of the following fields to search for a travel agency or travel wholesaler in the TICO database.

For best results , start with only one search field and expand as required. If you enter too many fields you may not receive results for entries that are in the database.

TICO certification and registration - what you need to know and do

Travel Professionals selling travel services must have TICO Certification.

Need a copy or misplaced your TICO Certification Certificate? contact Oliver's

Every person who is working for a registered Ontario retail travel agency and is selling travel services or providing travel advice to the public must, by law, meet the TICO's Education Standards. This includes Supervisors and Managers on a registrant's registration record with TICO. The Education Standards Program is administered by TICO. The program consists of two levels:

1) Travel Counsellor 2) Supervisor/Manager

IMPORTANT NOTE: Successfully passing the TICO Education Standards Exam allows you to sell travel services or provide travel advice to the public on behalf of a TICO registered Ontario travel agency. It does not mean that you are licensed to sell travel services in Ontario. A pass certificate for the exam is not the same as a TICO Registration. If you are not working for a TICO registered travel agency and you wish to sell travel services in Ontario, you would need to contact TICO’s registration department to obtain a license before you can start selling travel services.

For information on TICO's Education Standards Program, or to register for an exam, click here.

Next page: TICO featured in consumer protection magazine The Registrar

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What is TICO and why it matters when you travel

Last Updated February 25, 2023 William Tang

You are here: Home » Travel Tips » What is TICO and why it matters when you travel

If you’re a Canadian living in the province of Ontario, the TICO logo is surely something that you connect with travel.  We see it on travel agency websites, pamphlets, and in stores.  The blue, white, and green flag with “tico.ca” in bold letters in the middle is unmistakable but what does it really mean?  Is it only for Ontario residents or is it much more?

As regular consumers, it’s a logo that you expect to see but I think I speak for most people in saying that it’s not really clear why it’s a good thing and how does it help me as a traveller.  “It’s that travel agency thing” is kind of what I always said to myself but as I’ve done more research, it’s more than what I thought it was for.

Think of this as a TICO for Dummies as we go through all of the important information you need to know about the organization, why you should care about it, who is covered, and how they can help when things go wrong.

Read more Canada inspiration

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• Top things to do in Halifax
• What can you do in the Magdalen Islands in the winter?
• Weekend Ontario road trips you need to do
• Have you heard of the Oxford County Cheese Trail?

How to get the best deals in travel

• Hottest deals  – Bookmark the  travel deals page .
• Car rentals  – stop getting ripped off and  learn about car rental coupon codes .
• Hotels  – Use  corporate codes  or get  Genius 2 tier  with Booking.
• Flights  – Have you ever heard of the  “Everywhere” feature ?
• Insurance  – Make sure you’re covered and learn more about  where to buy the best travel insurance .

In This Article

What is TICO?

#1 not just brick and mortar – online and offline, #2 regulation – a focus on service, #3 complaints – you have options, #4 refunds – protection against closure or bankruptcy, #5 eh you don’t even need to live in ontario, everything else you’ve been wondering but nobody could answer, bottom line, travel resources for your next trip.

The long-form name of TICO is Travel Industry Council of Ontario .  As the name implies, this is an organization mandated by the Ontario government and focused around protecting the consumer – YOU!  As Ontario’s travel regulator, it was created in 1997 and is wholly financed by fees collected from Ontario travel agencies websites, and tour operators.

The best way to think about it is what would happen if there wasn’t a TICO in our province.  The travel industry would be the wild west.  If something went wrong, you’d have nobody to turn to.

“TICO has your back” says Dorian Werda, VP of Operations for TICO

FUN FACT:   Only 3 provinces in Canada have travel-related consumer protection agencies – Québec, British Columbia, and Ontario.

Why should you care about TICO?

So the real question is how does TICO have your back?

Let’s start with some seriously compelling reasons how TICO protects consumers and why we should book through a registered Ontario travel agency.

If you’re like me, you associate TICO with travel agents but in fact, TICO registers websites and travel agencies that have an office in Ontario.  This means you can book travel online or in-person with an Ontario-registered agency and you’re covered under the same protections.

A big part of TICO’s mandate is to make sure that travel agencies and websites follow strict consumer protection laws.  This means that there are standards that every single agency you work with has to follow.

Beyond professional expertise, there are rules that travel agents need to follow.  In fact, agents need to take an exam before they get their TICO certification, which allows them to sell travel services.  One of their functions is to follow the regulated booking process and invoicing.  As travellers, there is consistency here which is important.

When you’re finalizing your travel plans with an agent, here are a list of items that every agent needs to review with you.

• Total price including all taxes and fees
• Accurate description of travel services including dates
• Full disclosure of unique conditions that can affect your decision to book – i.e. construction at a resort, travel warnings etc.
• Service fee or consulting fees
• Fees/penalties for changes or cancelling (part of terms and conditions)
• What is non-refundable
• Advise on all travel insurance options
• Advise on travel documentation required
• Review all other terms and conditions

Here are a list of items that must be on the final invoice that’s provided to you.

• Price – full fare breakdown and total price
• Fees and penalties
• Agency information including TICO registration #
• Description of travel services including departure date and supplier
• Insurance (if purchased)
• “No price increases are permitted after the customer has paid in full”
• “If the price increase is more than 7% (except increases resulting from an increase in GST/PST/HST), the customer has the right to cancel the contract and obtain a full refund”
• Travel documents required for each passenger travelling with information such as type of passport, validity requirement for passport, visa, etc.
• Statements:  “Entry to another country may be refused even if the required information and travel documents are complete” and ““Living standards and practices at the destination and the standards and conditions there with respect to the provision of utilities, services and accommodation may differ from those found in Canada”
• Name of agent – Who made the booking and accepted the first payment

Why this matters

• No games – When you book elsewhere, there’s no requirement to follow specific rules.  Agencies and travel websites can do whatever they want if they’re not registered with TICO, and all of those small details that they don’t bother to disclose or worse, hide, you’ll be caught by surprise when things go wrong.
• You can point out when the rules aren’t followed – This is the perfect segue to the next point.  You are in full rights to file a complaint against a TICO registered travel agency or website if any of the above isn’t met.

FUN FACT:   It is actually illegal to advertise and sell travel in Ontario, Canada without TICO registration.  This means that even if you take money from someone else and book travel for them through something like a Meetup group is technically illegal.

There are a couple of situations in which you can complain so this is probably best explained through examples.

Example 1:  You’ve been sold something different than what was described

Let’s say you’re booking a 4-star all-inclusive vacation to Jamaica and the brochure describes the property as one with 2 pools.  If the resort happens to shut one down for renovations and your agent doesn’t disclose this change, you’re protected and you can request that the agency to provide you with a choice of alternative accommodations that’s acceptable to you or a refund .

The idea here is that you are within your rights to complain to the agency first by citing the regulations of the Ontario Travel Industry Act and seeing if they can resolve the situation to your satisfaction.

If not, you can file a complaint with TICO  where they help you through the process and facilitate communication between you and the travel agency.

 Good to know:  Note that TICO can’t impose a settlement or act as an arbitrator but they do make sure there is a process to follow to help solve your issue.

Example 2:  Missing disclosure

During booking with an agent in person or on the phone, there are certain disclosures that need to be provided and if according to the checklists detailed in point #1.  If for any reason something like insurance disclosure isn’t done, proper counselling around getting visas, proper documentation or penalties aren’t fully laid out to you, you can file a complaint.

Example 3:    All-in pricing

All-in pricing is the law and if you discover that this isn’t the case you can also file a complaint.  If the advertised price is not what you are charged or paid for (not including tips and upgrades), then you can file a complaint.

Example 4:  You arrive and something has changed

Another quick example is one where you arrive at a destination and to your surprise, the hotel is overbooked.  You are within your rights to request that your agency provides a comparable alternative that is acceptable to you or ask for a refund.

Not that this happens all the time but it unfortunately hits you when you least expect it so why forfeit your protection?

With TICO, there’s something called a Travel Compensation Fund and here’s how it works:

• If you book through a TICO registered travel agency or website, and a cruise line, airline, or travel agency/wholesaler  closes or goes bankrupt, you can file a claim for a refund for travel services that you did not receive.
• If you are stranded somewhere due to failure of a TICO-registered agency, website or tour operator, TICO may help you get safely home.

Where does this fund come from?  That’s a good question.  As part of Ontario Regulation 26/05, TICO administers this fund that’s completely financed by registered travel agencies and websites, and travel wholesalers in Ontario.

FUN FACT:   If you book your flight directly through the airline and they go bankrupt, you’re not protected.  If you book your flight through a TICO-registered agency, you are protected.

How do you file for a refund?  It’s actually pretty simple.  All you have to do is request a claim form via mail, e-mail or calling.  The only condition is that you have to file this claim within 6 months of the failure/closure.

As long as you have booked through an agency or website that is TICO registered, you’re afforded all the rights that I’ve gone through so far.  It almost sounds too good to be true but it is!

Recently, a large agency named Sinorama Holidays in Ontario closed its doors  and there were many travellers from the US that booked through them.  All consumers are eligible to file claims with TICO since Sinorama Holidays was a registered travel agency.  However, if those travellers booked through a non-TICO registered agency, let’s say in the US, they would be out of luck to try to get anything back.

Here are a few other things that I haven’t covered yet but I think are good questions to know the answer to.

What about other closures?  When it comes to closure and bankruptcy, the Travel Compensation Fund only kicks in for specifically airlines, cruises, and travel agencies, websites, and/or tour operators.  Here’s the kicker.  If you booked travel through a TICO-registered agency or website and they booked your trip with a provider that goes down, you can call the agency and they will do what they can to help you.  However, if you book directly with an airline or cruise ship, you are not covered under the Fund.  The key here is that airlines and cruise ships are not registered with TICO.

How is TICO different from travel insurance? This is a fair question but the primary answer here is that TICO is not a replacement for travel insurance.  If you’re looking for medical, cancellation, baggage delay, carrier delay, health, extreme sports coverage , you’ll need to purchase travel insurance.

So who amongst the big online players are registered TICO?   If you want to know which travel agencies and websites are registered with TICO, you can  check the TICO directory .  There are more TICO registered agencies and websites than you think!

With so many websites out there, it’s easy to think that booking with any one will do because that’s how we’ve been doing it for so long but now that you know more about how TICO works, you’d be silly not to book with a TICO-registered travel agency or website.

It all comes down to  Professionalism, Disclosure, and Protection .

Professionalism – Dealing with agents that have experience and are also TICO-certified.

Disclosure – If there’s anything that you can take away from this article, it’s that travel agents MUST disclose a mandatory list of items to you.  If they don’t, file a complaint.

Protection – Closures by cruises, travel agencies, websites, and airlines is a traveller’s worst nightmare.  TICO has your back when this happens.

FUN FACT:   Primera Air closed on October 1, 2018 and for those that were stranded, if they booked through a TICO agency or website, they could file a claim for a refund from the Compensation Fund for the return portion of the original Primera Air ticket.

I would love to hear from you – do you have a story to share about your experiences with TICO or simply a great story around why we should still use travel agents?  Drop a comment below!

What you should read next

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If you’re in the process of planning your trip and putting together your itinerary, these are genuinely the best resources that the Going Awesome Places team stands by 100% .

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Flights: Of all the booking search engines, Skyscanner is the most helpful and easy to use thanks to their Everywhere feature . Kayak is also another that’s we will often check as well.

Car Rental: If you’re looking to save money, these car rental coupon codes will be a true game-changer. Otherwise, DiscoverCars and RentalCars are great places to start.

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Hotels: Our go-to is Booking.com because they have the best inventory of properties including hotels and B&Bs plus they have their Genius tier discounts . The exception is Asia where Agoda always has the best prices. TripAdvisor is also useful for reviews and bookings.

Vacation Rentals: Your first instinct will be to check Airbnb but we always recommend checking VRBO as well if you’re looking for a vacation rental.

Tours: When planning our trips, we always check both Viator and GetYourGuide to at least see what’s out there in the destination that we’re going to. They often have different offerings and prices so check both.

Travel Insurance: Learn how to buy the best travel insurance for you. This isn’t something you want to travel without.

• Insured Nomads – Popular insurance provider for frequent travelers and comes with great coverage and special perks.
• RATESDOTCA – Search engine Canadians looking for the cheapest insurance including multi-trip annual policies.
• SafetyWing – A perfect fit for long-term nomads.
• Medjet – Global air medical transportation.
• InsureMyTrip – Best for seniors, families, and those with pre-existing conditions.

If you need more help planning your trip, make sure to check out our Travel Toolbox where we highlight all of the gear, resources, and tools we use when traveling.

About William Tang

William Tang is the Chief of Awesome behind the award-winning Going Awesome Places which is focused on outdoor adventure, and experiential travel. His true passion lies in telling stories, inspiring photography and videos, and writing detailed itineraries and travel guides. He is a member of Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC), Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), and Travel Massive. He has also been featured in publications such as Reader's Digest, Entrepreneur, Men's Journal, and Haute Living. Make sure to learn more about William Tang to find out his story and how Going Awesome Places started.

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Alexander Mercado says

October 12, 2023 at 3:30 PM

I tried searching for an Ontario based Travel Agency named UTO Travel/UTO Vacation and it’s not showing up. Are they registered with TICO? If not, shouldn’t they be?

William Tang says

October 16, 2023 at 9:09 PM

You’re correct in that UTO isn’t TICO-certified. This can be the case for many international-based agencies as they are online-only which looks like is the case for UTO. This means that you wouldn’t be protected under TICO but that’s par for the course with non Ontario-based companies.

August 4, 2023 at 1:16 PM

I booked a disney package through Disneys online website. Are they registered under TICO even though they are based in USA. Also how can I find out if online flight websites are covered by TICO for example last minute flights on BING, kayak.com, flighthub, priceline etc.?

August 4, 2023 at 2:39 PM

Hi Mary, I don’t believe so as you didn’t purchase it from a travel agency in Ontario so it wouldn’t fall under TICO coverage. As far as online travel agencies (OTA) are concerned, they do not have TICO-certification unfortunately. Remember, you can always use the agency search tool .

Sana Hasan says

July 28, 2021 at 11:35 AM

Hi Tang, your article helped me get the knowledge I was seeking regarding TICO. All comments below were also very helpful. My problem is that I booked an Emirates ticket via a TICO certified agency but had to request a cancellation due to medical reasons. The agent told me they will charge me 45% as a cancellation penalty (pls note Emirates has suspended any cancellation fee at the moment until Dec 2021). I would have paid a 10 or 20% penalty for that matter but in this case 45% was way too much for me. It sounds unjustified specially when the Airline itself says the penalty fee has been suspended. In the end the agency converted this ticket into an open ticket. However I want to take this matter to TICO and get it reviewed. What do you suggest.

Will Tang says

July 29, 2021 at 2:26 PM

I’m glad this helped! I think in your case, it’s totally worth it to file a case with TICO. There’s no downside in getting their opinion on this even if no action ends up being taken.

April 22, 2021 at 8:13 PM

Do i need tico if i am focused on the US market?

April 23, 2021 at 12:50 PM

That’s a good question. If you’re selling travel and based in Ontario, I believe you have to be TICO-certified.

Gayle Sawyer says

January 10, 2021 at 12:15 PM

I booked with a person in ON who said he is an agent for Skipper Ilja Bendeler’s Corp Kop van Noord b.v. in 2019 for trip in 2020. Received no official invoice, insurance options, or travel info e.g. passport. Did not know anything about TICO. Then Covid happened so likely we can not travel again in 2021 due to vaccinations. Trip to happen in July 2021. He keeps referring to ANVR Travel terms. Cheques were made to him personally and he will not give full refund. Do I have any legal avenues to move forward? Look forward to hearing from you. Thank you. Sincerely Gayle Sawyer

January 11, 2021 at 10:50 AM

Hi Gayle, thanks for reaching out. If this was an agent selling in Ontario, then they must be TICO certified. I’m not quite sure what the ANVR Travel Terms are but that could be the package that you booked and the parent company of the one operating it? This is a tricky situation so I recommend that you reach out to the TICO hotline to find out what recourse you have in the form of a complaint or as part of the Compensation Fund. Their number is 1-888-451-TICO.

Judy Faitek says

May 21, 2020 at 10:56 AM

Thanks for the tutorial.

I booked with a TICO agent for a trip in August to Papua New Guinea. They booked my airline with Phillipine Airlines. The agent states that the airline needs to refund the money to them before they will refund to me. Am I covered by TICO?

May 21, 2020 at 11:21 PM

Thanks for writing to us! I’m actually going to try to find out for you instead of making a guess. I’ll reach out to you soon!

Schitte says

August 19, 2019 at 1:28 PM

I am in touch with TICO currently as I experienced something with a travel agent recently. I find this agents are very tricky and they are upto making money whichever way they can. It feels they even twist and ignore their terms and conditions many cases. Also many travelers are not aware of their right and TICO. So they easily get tricked by these agents. If you are into a situation where you think you are tricked and ripped by agents you have every right to consult with TICO. we need to get these words out.

August 19, 2019 at 2:03 PM

Thanks for your comments here! I agree that the general public needs increased awareness and education about TICO and what we should all expect when we book with travel agencies based in Ontario. There are a lot of fine details that come to play when it comes to minimum level of service required by each agency, and in addition to that, recourse when things go wrong.

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Travel Industry Today

The future of tico – and ontario fees.

Next April, Ontario TICO registrants will see a return to registration and renewal fees that were waived during the pandemic. The question is how much will they be?

Initially the fees will “temporarily” revert to pre-pandemic rates, but after that “all options are on the table” says TICO president and CEO Richard Smart, who reports that the province’s self-regulatory body has begun a comprehensive review of its funding model, which includes maintaining the Compensation Fund for consumers and sets fees for travel agencies and tour operators amongst its many regulatory services.

Smart says “fixing the fund” – considered to be maintained at too high a level by many in the travel industry, and solely financed by the industry – was his first goal when taking the post as registrar eight years ago, but the task was too complex, and the province wasn’t ready.

Now, he says government is “squarely behind” an A-to-Z review of the TICO’s funding framework and the Fund, which will be conducted by TICO management in consultation with Optimus SBR, an Ontario-based consulting firm, with recommendations for TICO’s board of directors expected by the end of the year.

This extensive review follows a 2021 TICO fee review and industry consultation that is being followed up and expanded upon through the prism of the travel industry’s pandemic recovery process.

Smart says a consumer pay model – utilized in other jurisdictions in Canada and the US – will be one option considered, with the implication that fees from industry registrants would be mitigated by the new funding model.

But he’s quick to add that other models will be considered as well, such as a “risk-based” model that would see a flexible fee scale based on the individual risk of the registrant (including business model and history).

The review will include comprehensive consultations with TICO registrants and stakeholders, likely next summer, followed by submission to the Minister of Public and Business Service, leading to a new framework (and timing for a new fee structure) hopefully revealed by Fall, 2023.

Ultimately, TICO says, it is seeking an “innovative model that meets the needs of consumer protection today and the future…” and to further address both registrant fees and the Compensation Fund, the latter currently sitting at $23.5 million.

Smart stresses TICO’s need to return to a self-financed model – a provincial mandate that was temporarily shelved (and supported) by the provincial government during the pandemic when the “the tap was turned off” for most Ontario registrants, who were largely unable to conduct business during travel’s halt.

“TICO was never meant to be government funded,” he says of the reinstatement of fees. (Currently, all registrants with a year-end or six-month period-end on or after Jan. 1, 2023, will have fees owing again starting on April 1, 2023).

Smart acknowledges that it’s too early to speculate whether registrants’ fees will go up or down.

And while many in the industry advocate a consumer pay model, he warns that getting the government to sign off on what is effectively a consumer tax would be a “tall order.”

Similarly, consideration of dumping the Compensation Fund, which is used to reimburse consumers (up to a $5,000 cap, and as a last resort) for registrant or end supplier failure (the latter when purchased through a TICO-registered travel agency or tour operator), may not be the answer either based on some less-than-glowing reports from Australia, which has tried the move.

But he nevertheless notes that all such fundamental questions will be considered as part of an exercise that amounts to “the most significant review in TICO history.”

TICO says registrant input is critical to the process of shaping its future funding model in support of its consumer protection mandate and encourages questions and feedback to be sent to [email protected].

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Canadian Regulations for Travel Agencies in a Nutshell

 We have a pretty comprehensive article on US Seller of Travel Laws   (SOT), but we don’t want to leave out our neighboring Canadian travel agents. Canada has enriched my life with many great gifts like poutine, Justin Trudeau, Margaret Atwood and Alice Munro, the prettier half of Niagara Falls, hockey, and Alaska (jk, that last one was from Russia. Thanks, Russia!).

Plus, from a design standpoint, their flag is pretty awesome. This is my long way of saying, I owe you one, Canada. So allow me to attempt to repay my huge debt with an article that includes some updates on Canadian travel agency regulations.

Want to fast-forward to a specific province? Here you go:

⭐️ HAR ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: ⭐️

• Canadian Licensing in a Nutshell [+infographic]
• British Columbia
• A List of Canadian Host Agencies, by Province

Canadian Travel Agency Licensing Regulations in a Nutshell:

Only three provinces have specific regulations for selling travel—Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia. In short, this means that if you are a travel agent that operates your business in of any of these provinces OR if you sell to any residents of those provinces, you need comply with each province’s regulations.

There are no extra-territorial laws, so agencies that want to operate in or sell to clients in multiple of these provinces will need to register for licensing in EACH of those provinces. There’s no reciprocity, my friend.

Here is all is, simplified into a nifty infographic:

Of course, that's just the beginning. Read on for more details on each province's regulations.

Quebec Travel Agency Licensing Regulations

Quebec is a bit complex, and not only because my French is veeeeeeeery rusty. But, in the spirit of licensing, there are oodles and oodles of bureaucratic hoops to jump through (let’s be honest, this is NOT limited to Quebec).

Like most licensing requirements, the Quebec Office of Consumer Protection (OPC) differentiates between travel agencies and travel counsellors. This is a line that can be pretty blurry for hosted agents, but I’ll attempt to bring it into focus below.

For hosted agents, I don’t want to mince words. Here’s OPC’s definition of an outside agent , verbatim, “travel agents who are contractually bound to a single travel agency. Most of the time, they do not work in the office. These counselors may not receive clients at home unless a duplicate of the travel agency's permit has been issued for an establishment located at their address.”

Here’s what you need as a hosted agent:

To be licensed as a hosted agent in Quebec, you must have Travel Counsellor Certificate (on the English translation of the site, it’s sometimes referred to as “the travel agency stewardship certificate”—don’t be fooled, it’s the same thing). The process for receiving the certificate is relatively straightforward:

• Pass the Travel Counsellors Exam: You can register for your exam through the Institute of Tourism and Hotels of Quebec (ITHQ). The exam runs $53 and there are optional study guides and exam simulations (not required) also available for purchase. The exam consists of True/False questions, and applicants need to score a 65% to pass. Travel counselors must retake this exam annually to renew their license. 
• Travel Agency Certificate: Before you even apply, you must hold a Travel Agency Steward Certificate. This runs $56 CAD and you must renew it annually (the renewal is $28CAD). In order to receive your Travel Agency Steward certificate, you must be affiliated with a licensed travel agency.
• Register Your Business: Registraire des entreprises du Québec .

The caveat here is that everything you do and sell must be under the umbrella of your host agency (including service fees). This means that, while you can have your own travel agency brand, you will still need to disclose to clients the name of the host agency you sell under, and you cannot accept money from your clients (only commissions from your host).

If that’s too restrictive, travel agencies can apply for a Travel Counsellor General Permit (not to be mistaken for the “Certificate”). You will need one whether you are based in Quebec OR selling travel to clients in Quebec. There are some exceptions, but they mostly apply to outfitters and folks who book travel without any compensation or commission (probably not you). 

In order to apply for the General Permit, you must do all the above to get your Travel Agency Certificate, plus you get to have a little extra bureaucratic fun:

Eligibility to qualify for a Travel Counsellor General Permit in Quebec: 

• Another exam! Joy! This one is the Travel Agency Managers Exam , and it runs 70CAD and lasts 90min. If you’re taking the exam for the first time, you must pass it before you apply. But if you’re renewing (which you will do annually), you just need to make sure you pass it before the renewal date of your license. 
• Cost: The cost of permit is $74/$75 CAD per month for an agency and $46/$47 CAD per month for a branch office 1
• Bond: You will need to provide a $25,000 CAD bond. This is used to compensate customers in the event the agency fails, closes or needs to provide compensation for services promised then not rendered. None of this will apply to you, but it’s a safety net that will help you as much as it will help your clients. 🙂
• If the bond is a bearer bond or cash (CHA-CHING!), you will need to also submit a Merchant’s form (so you can’t go all anonymous superhero, and sell travel under the cover of night).  
• First-time applicants must demonstrate proof they have $5,000 CAD of working capital, and this must be verified by an external accountant and or auditor. (Sorry, you can’t submit janky homemade Excel sheets like I always try to do.) 
• Copy of agency’s opening documents and signature from of each trust account signed by its financial institution.
• If your company is registered outside of Quebec, you need a certificate of compliance from Registraire des entreprises du Québec .

The licenses are issued 15 days after the completed application is received, but can be rushed in 3 days if you’re really in a pinch. 2 Did I mention my French is horrible? If I missed anything, let me know.

Ontario Travel Agency Licensing Regulations—TICO Registration

Travel agents in Ontario, Canada, you’re the most highly restricted. The first thing you need to know is that there is a difference between the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) Education Standards Exam (or the TICO exam ) and being a TICO registered travel agency.

Every employee working at an Ontario agency that is selling travel/providing advice (and yes, this includes you, supervisors and managers!) must take and pass the TICO exam. But get this. Even if everyone in your office has taken and passed this test, you aren't legal unless your travel agency is registered as TICO agency.  

That's right Ontario travel agencies, you need two parts to be compliant:

• TICO agency registration
• all employees to pass the TICO exam

Or, on the flip side, if you're a hosted travel agent in Ontario, you need:

• a TICO registered host agency ( search for TICO registered travel agencies )
• to take (and pass) the TICO exam

So, here's the info that will help make sure you're legal! The  (TICO) exam  currently rings up at $35 CAD for travel counsellors, $35 CAD for managers/supervisors, and $50 for the combined travel counsellor/manager-supervisor test. Here's a great resource if you're looking for in-depth information on the TICO exam process .

Getting registered as a TICO agency is going to require quite a bit more moola. You can find more specifics on the requirements of the TICO agency registration  on their site but we've shortened the list for you. Here's the things that will jump out to you and have you gawking at your screen:

• There's a $3,000 CAD application fee for new agencies
• You need to show financial statements proving you have $5,000 in capital to work with
• You'll need letters of reference
• A $10,000 security deposit (returned to you after 2 years of showing you're not going to rip anyone off)
• You need to set up a trust account

If you're already a TICO registered agency, the renewal fee is based on your travel sales:

One last thing to note, the TICO agency registration is NOT transferable. So if you were looking to buy an agency, know that the costs to re-register will be significant. And after all that, if you're still ready to make the leap, here's the registration forms to become a TICO registered travel agency!

British Columbia Travel Agency Licensing Regulations

In BC, you'll need licensing regardless if you plan to be a hosted travel advisor or want to get your own travel accreditation . Big picture, if you want to get licensed in BC, here's what you need to do:

• Register your business with the BC Corporate Registry (Tele: 1-877-526-1526, $40 registration fee and $30 name approval fee for Sole Proprietors, or $305 for LLCs)
• Apply for your license to sell travel through the Consumer Protection BC  (Tele: 1-888-777-4393, $1,293 fee for travel agencies/wholesalers and $839 for branch offices).

Here's a big whopping checklist of steps needed to get licensed in BC:

Here's a look at BC's license application checklist:

However, the process is going to be different for hosted advisors compared to independently-accredited advisors. Below offers a bit more detail:

4 steps to get licensed as a Hosted advisor in british columbia, Canada

Hosted advisors are considered a branch office in the eyes of BC. The good news for all y'all hosted advisors is that this route is lighter on the paperwork.

Here's the steps to get licensed:

• Provide your municipal business license
• Set up a business phone number (must be public, searchable, and clearly listed on your website, invoices, and other public documents.)
• Fill out a branch location license form .
• [For home-based advisors only] Fill out this form if you want to operate your business from home.
• Get knowledgeable about lots and lots of rules and regulations .

9 steps to get licensed as an independently-accredited advisor in british columbia, Canada

Fun for you, you get to fill out a lot more paperwork than your hosted peers! Here are the nine steps you need to get licensed as a "head office" in BC.

• Provide proof of registration or incorporation. (Go here to register your sole proprietorship or general partnership.)
• Get a criminal record check (for Canadian residents).
• Obtain and provide financial security. (Cash, Letter of Credit, Surety Bond, or Safekeeping agreement are all acceptable forms. Go to this link for more details.)
• Provide financial information. (This ensures you have enough working capital to operate.)

List of Canadian Hosts by Province

Here's a handy dandy guide to see which Canadian-based host agencies are licensed to operated in the provinces mentioned in this article:

• Travel Masters  
• KVI Travel  
• Casino World Travel  
• Travel Edge
• TravelOnly  
• Prestige Agent Network
• Travel Masters
• Nexion Canada
• Casino World Travel
• Travel Professionals International
• Expedia CruiseShipCenters
• Newwest Travel & Cruises
• The Travel Agent Next Door

British Columbia:

• Expedia CruiseShipCenters  
• Newwest Travel & Cruises  

If you want to operate to your agency in any of provinces outside of QC, ON and BC, AND you don't plan on selling to resident in any of those provinces, you're in the clear and don't need to worry about of this (but you're dang smart!). 

Canadian + Fees.

This last part doesn't necessarily have to do with regulations but I figure since you've read the entire way through this, that you deserve a little pick me up. And I have just the thing for you.

Take some time to listen to a fellow Canadian who only sells air tickets (no he's not a corporate agent) and has come up with a way to charge a $60-500 CAD ticketing fee for every ticket. 85% of his income comes from fees. Feeling inspired and curious? Have a seat and plug into an episode of our Travel Agent Chatter podcast!

I reached out to Justin Trudeau for comment, but his offices mentioned something about him being busy running a country or something like that. Oh well. You can’t win them all. Look no further.

But  I'd like to extend a very special thank you to two excellent resources who shared their expertise for this article:  Mike Foster , President of Nexion Canada, ULC, and James Shearer , Chief Operating Officer of Travel Masters who offered a ton of great insights and information for this article. 

Do you have thoughts or comments or ideas or experiences you’d like share? We want to hear from you!

• Depends on when application is submitted: If it’s before May 1st, it’s the lesser amount in both cases. If you apply after May 1st on any given calendar year, it’s the higher amount ↩
• if you want to do that, you will need to pay 50% of your entire permit—which would be half of the monthly cost times 16 months. ↩

About the Author

Mary Stein has been working as a writer and editor for Host Agency Reviews since 2016. She loves supporting travel advisors on their entrepreneurial journey and is inspired by their passion, tenacity, and creativity. Mary is also a mom, dog lover, fiction writer, hiker, and a Great British Bake Off superfan.

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Government Making Changes To Composition Of TICO Board

August 14, 2023

On Aug. 11, 2023, the Chair of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) Board of Directors received a letter from the Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery, Kaleed Rasheed outlining five orders for the organization.

The Minister’s Orders include the following:

• Decreasing the number of Board members from 11 to 9.
• Ensuring that all Board members possess a positive orientation for proactive consumer protection initiatives.
• Ensuring no more than 34% of the members of the Board are drawn from the travel agent and travel wholesaler industry.
• Establishing a nominations committee with requirements around eligibility criteria for nominated Board members.
• Establishing an industry advisory council, comprised of members representing the interests of travel agents and travel wholesalers to report to and advise the Board.

To view the Minister’s orders, CLICK HERE.

The changes are being introduced to help enhance consumer protection; enhance accountability for the sector; present an opportunity for TICO’s Board to lead in governance best practices, mirroring the recommendations given by the Auditor General of Ontario to other Ontario regulators; and provide a forum for industry to identify issues and provide advice to TICO’s Board.

TICO’s CEO Richard Smart said: “While TICO’s existing Board structure has served the organization well for many years, this governance change brings added balance to the Board and reflects best-in-class governance practices.”

Smart observed: “This change allows for a more diverse range of voices to actively contribute to TICO’s consumer protection mandate, while still ensuring the industry has a strong voice at the table.”

Similar governance changes have been implemented at other Delegated Administrative Authorities, including the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC), Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) and Tarion.

These orders reflect a modernized approach to board governance, which includes skills-based recruitment to ensure optimal expertise in board oversight.

The Board of Directors is responsible for providing ongoing strategic oversight and governance to TICO as it fulfills its mandate of consumer protection.

TICO is making the necessary by-law changes to implement these orders, which will be presented at TICO’s Annual General Meeting, scheduled virtually for Tues., Sept. 26, 2023 at 5 pm.

In terms of next steps, TICO will host a webinar in the coming month to provide more information about how the Minister’s Orders will be implemented and provide an opportunity for registrants and stakeholders to ask questions.

TICO indicated that it will be sharing additional information shortly.

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A new discount bus route from Toronto will help you explore Ontario

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Discount bus company FlixBus has expanded with a new route from Toronto to help residents better explore Ontario without breaking the bank.

Leading up to the province's prime hiking, camping and outdoor exploration months, the brand has just launched service between downtown T.O. and Sudbury, connecting the province's biggest city with its northeast (and everywhere in between).

Buses run twice per day, every day except for Tuesdays, starting at Union Station with stops at Toronto Pearson International Airport, Parry Sound, Port Severn, Waubaushene and two points in Sudbury.

The departure times from Toronto are at 8:30 a.m. (from Union) and 9:05 a.m. (from Pearson), and from Sudbury, at 2.30 p.m. (from the Ontario Northland Terminal) and 2:50 p.m. (from the Four Corners). Tickets for the four-to-five-hour trip run from $49 to $59 one-way.

New discount bus routes will let you explore Ontario for less than the average bar tab https://t.co/DZ5qWTv6H1 #Ontario — blogTO (@blogTO) August 2, 2022

For those coming to the big city from up north, FlixBus offers a ton of connections to places like Niagara Falls , the U.S., Alberta, B.C., Quebec and all across Ontario , with service to and from cities like London, Kitchener, Hamilton, Peterborough, Oshawa, Kingston, Ottawa, Windsor, St. Catharines and Mississauga.

Though it only recently arrived in Canada in 2022 , the low-cost travel line was founded in Germany in 2011 and has long been huge in and around Europe.

It now boasts more than 400,000 routes across 43 countries including Canada, the U.S., India, all over the EU, and more. Last year , it integrated its Flix North America arm with Greyhound, which it acquired in 2018.

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